Trash Tutorial: Shipping tape, envelope windows can stay on

Saturday

May 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Q: Must plastic shipping tape be removed from the cardboard boxes and manila envelopes we discard in town-approved recycling bins? And similarly, must paper labels be removed from plastic bags that we...

By Sarah Kite-Reeves

Q: Must plastic shipping tape be removed from the cardboard boxes and manila envelopes we discard in town-approved recycling bins? And similarly, must paper labels be removed from plastic bags that we stuff in the ReStore containers at supermarkets? Whenever I recycle boxes and bags, I try to scrape off most strips of tape and labels. However, others in my family find that superfluous.

— Michel-André Bossy

A: Good news! Tape and labels do not have to be removed from cardboard boxes or plastic bags. Similarly, plastic “windows” on things like pasta boxes or envelopes also do not need to be removed. Labels can remain on cans, jars, and bottles too.

Pellet bags and more

Q: I have a pellet stove for heating my home, where can I recycle the large plastic bags that they come in? The storage bins at the market are too small for the 150 bags that I have, if that is the correct place to recycle them. Thank you.

— Carl Saccoccio

A: If you have just a few pellet bags, they can be returned to any supermarket, pharmacy, or big box store that participates in the ReStore plastic bag recycling program. If you have a large amount of material, it can be brought directly to the Materials Recycling Facility in Johnston at no charge, at any time during our normal operating hours.

In addition to pellet bags, the ReStore program accepts bubble wrap, shrink wrap, cereal box liners, dry cleaner bags, newspaper sleeves, produce bags, and product overwrap. Overwrap is the plastic that covers things like cases of bottled water or multi-packs of toilet paper, paper towels, or boxed foods from membership-style stores like BJ’s or Sam’s Club.